Another reason not to shop at Walmart

I truly don't understand the appeal of standing in line for hours to be let into a store to shop the day after Thanksgiving, also known as Black Friday. Well black Friday will have a whole new meaning for the family of the 32 year old man that was crushed to death as he opened the doors to a Walmart store to let shoppers in. The crowd surged forward and did nothing to help this poor underpaid man as he lay on the floor being trampled. Even co-workers who tried to come to his aid where unable to get to him and help. He died at 6 AM at the hospital that day. 

But here is the kicker. When the store announced that they were closing because of the death, shoppers protested that they had been in line since Thanksgiving evening. They cursed staff as they were asked to leave. The Christmas spirit at its best, eh?

Wow. What is wrong with people. Someone dies and you are only concerned that you couldn't finish your shopping. Perhaps this explains the 47% that voted for McCain/Palin. I didn't understand that either. The callous me first always, at the lowest possible price always, under every circumstance is frightening. 

"Walmart. Low prices. Live better." Their slogan only applies if you get to live it looks like. Well, not really. 

Another sad story to be sure

A boy from Westfield, MA accidentally killed himself with an Uzi. While an instructor at a gun fair was watching, 8-year old Christopher Biziljat aimed an Uzi at a pumpkin and pulled the trigger as his dad reached for a camera.

Christopher lost control and fatally shot himself in the head.

Now gun safety experts and some gun enthusiasts are wondering why such a young child was allowed to fire a weapon used in war. Local, state and federal authorities are also investigating whether everyone involved had proper licenses or if anyone committed a criminal act.

Christoper, a third grader, was attending the show his father and sixth-grade brother, Colin. He had fired handguns and rifles before, but Sunday was his only time firing an automatic weapon, said his father, Charles Biziljat.

What a horrifying story. R.I.P. Christopher.

Cool Hand Luke passes away

One of my favorite people passed away yesterday. Paul Newman, 83, died of cancer. He has always been my quintessential star that I have admired. Cool Hand Luke is one of my favorite movies. I often use the line, 'what we have here is failure to communicate', from this movie in my daily life. It sums up situations up nicely on a regular basis. 

His ability to survive Hollywood and his philanthropic work makes him a-o-kay in my book. I'm sorry to hear that he is gone. Even as an old man he was still something to look at. Thanks for the lasting memories you've left for us all Paul. 

R.I.P. 

Desperation

How much is a house worth to you? Well, to one woman, it was worth her life. 

Charlene Balderama faxed a letter to the mortgage company that was foreclosing on her home that afternoon stating that by the time they had received this letter, she would be dead.

The mortgage company called police who found her dead from a self inflicted gunshot wound from her husband's high power rifle. Next to her body was a note telling her family to "take the (life) insurance money and pay for the house." 

This horrible situation with bad lending practices is taking it's toll in so many ways. I equate this mess to the Enron scandal. Not much is being done to hold those that got rich from this scam accountable, while others are paying the ultimate price. Shame on Countrywide, Citibank  and the other banks that took advantage of those most vulnerable. All in the name of the almighty buck.

RIP Tim Russert

Tim passed away of an apparent heart attack at age 58 today, Friday June 13th. Maybe there is some truth to the mythological date afterall.

I respected and liked him. Who is going to guide us through the next few months of this election? Who will take on the role of moderator of "Meet The Press"? I feel similar to the way I did when Walter Cronkite retired, only the loss is greater as we will not have guest appearances. 

RIP Tim Russert. More people will miss you than you know.

R.I.P. Sydney

"You think that not being caught in a lie is the same thing as telling the truth." So went Sydney Pollack's favorite line of dialogue, which he reused in various forms to ideal effect in a number of subtly tense, slightly off-kilter movies that he made over nearly half a century. The filmmaker - a director and producer by trade but an actor by training - died of Cancer Monday May 27, 2008 at his home in Los Angeles, at age 73. He leaves behind a body of work in cinema and television virtually unparalleled in modern movies, one that inspired audiences (and me) while crisscrossing genres. Rest in peace, Sydney, we'll miss you.